New Year’s Eve in Prague: 1–4 Day Hour-by-Hour Itineraries

Over New Year Prague’s Christmas markets are still open, the streets are lit and at midnight the whole city lights up with fireworks. Our routes are built around places that close early on 31 December and open late on 1 January, with real time set aside for mulled wine and shopping. There are two paces: relaxed and balanced–packed.

Plan with your own dates

Enter your arrival and departure; the route adapts to that day’s opening hours, markets and your flights.

Itineraries by length

Where to be at midnight

Prague has no official fireworks display; at midnight people set off fireworks all over the city. The midnight step in the route is your choice: we suggest the riverbank at a relaxed pace and Letná at a balanced–packed pace, but you can pick any option.

Smetana Embankment: 7 minutes from the Old Town, with the castle and Charles Bridge opposite. Walk back to your hotel.
Letná Park, the Metronome: A panorama over the whole city; a 20–25-minute climb with stairs through a dark park.
Old Town Square: The biggest party atmosphere; very crowded, with glass and fireworks underfoot.
New Year’s Eve cruise: Dinner, drinks and a midnight toast on board; sells out early.

When are the Christmas markets open?

Market	Dates	Hours
Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square	28 November – 6 January	10 am–10 pm (on 24 December stalls until 2 pm)
Náměstí Míru (Vinohrady)	20 November – 24 December	10 am–7 pm
Náměstí Republiky	25 November – 24 December	10 am–8 pm
Tylovo náměstí	26 November – 24 December	10 am–7 pm

Open and closed on 31 December and 1 January

Place	29–30 December	31 December	1 January
Old Town and Wenceslas markets	10 am–10 pm	open	10 am–10 pm
St Vitus Cathedral	9 am–4 pm	9 am–3 pm	12:30–4 pm
Castle buildings and Golden Lane	9 am–4 pm	9 am–4 pm	afternoon*
Old Town Hall Tower	9 am–8 pm	9 am–4 pm	11 am–8 pm
Jewish Museum	9 am–4:30 pm	not published*	11 am–4:30 pm
Strahov Library	9 am–5 pm	9 am–noon	noon–5 pm
Large stores	open	close at 5–6 pm	closed (over 200 m²)
Public transport	normal	trams until ~10 pm, metro until ~2 am	holiday timetable

*Prague Castle hasn’t published its 2026 holiday hours yet; the table follows the 2025 pattern. Starred cells will be updated in early December.

Tips

Don’t leave your shopping until late on 31 December: large stores close at 5–6 pm. On 1 January and 25–26 December stores over 200 m² are closed by law, and on 24 December they close at noon; small gift shops are up to their owners.
The neighbourhood markets (Náměstí Míru, Náměstí Republiky) end on 24 December. Over New Year only the Old Town and Wenceslas markets are open (until 6 January). To see them all, go in the first half of December.
Book New Year’s Eve and Christmas Eve dinner in October or November: most restaurants serve a set menu and fill up early.
Prague has no official fireworks display; at midnight people set off fireworks all over the city. Watch out for fireworks in the crowd.
Visit the castle on the morning of 31 December: St Vitus closes at 3 pm that day, opens at 12:30 on 1 January, and the castle buildings are fully closed on 24 December.
On 31 December trams switch to the night timetable around 10 pm and the metro runs to the centre until about 2 am. On 24 December trams stop regular service around 6 pm. Staying in the Old Town and walking back is easiest.
Churches aren’t heated (St Nicholas included), so keep your coat and gloves on inside. In December it gets dark around 4 pm.
The Jewish Museum is closed on Saturdays. Jewish Museum tickets

Frequently asked questions

Are there fireworks in Prague on New Year’s Eve?

There is no official city display. At midnight people set off fireworks all over the city; the best views are from Letná Park and the Vltava riverbanks.

Are the Christmas markets open on New Year’s Eve?

Yes. The Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square markets stay open until 6 January. The neighbourhood markets (Náměstí Míru, Náměstí Republiky) end on 24 December.

Is Prague Castle open on 1 January?

The courtyards are open; last season St Vitus Cathedral opened from 12:30 to 4 pm on 1 January. That’s why our 1 January routes start late and visit the castle in the afternoon.

When should I book New Year’s Eve dinner?

In October or November. Most restaurants serve a set menu and fill up in November.

How do I get back to my hotel after midnight?

According to last year’s notice the metro runs to the centre until about 2 am, and trams switch to the night timetable after 10 pm. Staying in the Old Town and walking back is easiest.

Are shops open on 31 December?

Yes, but large stores close at 5–6 pm. On 1 January stores over 200 m² are closed by law; small gift shops are up to their owners. We put shopping around midday on 31 December.

Sources

Opening hours and dates checked against official sources (20 October 2026). Holiday hours can change; check the official websites before you go.